If you’ve decided you want to start exercising regularly and biking is your exercise of choice first you’ll want to make sure you have a good bike of course.  But the next most important item is finding the right bicycle seat, sometimes called a saddle.

The bicycle seat supports your weight while you ride.  If you don’t have a bike saddle that fits correctly it can cause a lot of discomfort, including irritation and chaffing.  You may have even read reports of bicycle seats contributing to things as serious as impotence.

Types Of Bicycle Seats

Because manufacturers and inventors saw the need we now have a wide variety of bike seats from which to choose.  There are saddles made for different types of bikes, for example a racing bike will require something different than a cruiser because of the way the rider sits and how the bike is used, for speed versus leisure.

There are also different bicycle seats for the different genders.  A bike seat made for a woman is a little wider and shorter than one made for a man to fit the shape of the pelvis better.  Some women do fine with a men’s bike seat but others are more comfortable with one made specifically for women, so it is something to consider.

There are bike seats for those who have problems with pain in pressure points, numbness or tingling while riding.  You can find a variety of inventive designs to help avoid these types of problems.  Some seats use padding while others use an innovative design.  Both styles are effective, it just depends on your preference.

Finding The Right Fit

How do you know if the bike seat fits you correctly?  You can tell by the way your sit bones hit the seat.  Your sit bones are the two bones that you can feel when you sit on a hard surface.  Your sit bones should be in the middle of the rear, larger portion of the bicycle seat.

Finding the right bike seat can make a big difference in the way you ride and how much you enjoy it.  If you are starting an exercise regime this is an important thing to consider if you want to stick to that regime.